Baseball opens 2018 season in Florida with double header split with Nebraska Wesleyan

By Tim Glon

AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- The Ohio Northern baseball team opened its 2018 season by splitting a double header with Nebraska Wesleyan on Sunday at Lake Myrtle Park Field #1.

The Polar Bears (1-1 overall) got three home runs and a stellar pitching performance to win the opening game 8-4.

The Prairie Wolves (1-1) scored five unearned runs in the third inning and went on to win the nightcap 8-5.

In Game 1, ONU got home runs from junior Caleb Thomas (Strongsville), senior Jason Burkett (Maumee) and senior Dan Barna (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley).

Sophomore Jack Schaller (Bowling Green) struck out the first seven batters he faced and allowed only two unearned runs in 5.0 innings to earn the win. He ended the game with 11 strikeouts and gave up just two base hits.

Senior All-American T.J. Storer (Loveland/Moeller) got the save with two innings of relief.

In Game 2, NWU scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the third and two more runs in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead.

Northern rallied three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to get within 7-5, but the Prairie Wolves got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the win.

The Polar Bears will return to action on Monday with a single game against Albion (Mich.) at 9 am at Lake Myrtle Park's main field.